Aviation Survival Equipment Technician
As an Aviation Survival Equipment Technician, you'll fit and maintain life support and survival equipment in state-of-the-art military aircraft, making sure it’s in working order to ensure pilots and aircrew can complete their missions safely. Whether it's conducting maintenance on aircraft safety systems, or training pilots and aircrew on the proper use of equipment – the nature of this role makes it one of the most important roles in the Air Force.
What you'll do
You’ll work in a tight-knit team alongside the world’s leading aircraft and the aircrew onboard to ensure safety equipment is in working order to ensure the safety of our pilots and aircrew. On any given day, you’ll be working with advanced flight helmets, oxygen masks, escape equipment, life preservers, life rafts, rescue pyrotechnics and specialist fabrics. You’ll also train pilots and aircrew in the correct use of aviation life support, safety and survival equipment.
It's one of the few roles where you’ll be given the opportunity to work closely with the Navy, Army, other foreign forces, and civilian emergency services. Essentially, where there are military aircraft, you'll find an Aviation Survival Equipment Technician close by.
Your duties may include:
- maintaining life support equipment within an aircraft, including life rafts, fire extinguishers, parachutes, thermal acoustic equipment and aircraft fabric components
- maintaining life support equipment worn by aircrew, including ballistic vests, oxygen masks, helmets, immersion suits, night vision goggles, anti-G suits, heads up displays and radios
- training aircrew on the proper use of safety equipment, survival techniques, and how to handle explosive ordnance, firearms and life support equipment
- being involved with Aircraft flightline handling and replenishments.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career. As you progress, the Air Force will provide you with development opportunities to assist you with your increasing leadership responsibility, as well as further education and specialised training within your chosen role. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and help you to lead teams of aviators in future.
During your career you can apply for non-technical roles within areas such as personnel management, workforce planning, Military Skills Instructing and the Australian Federation Guard. As your career advances, you'll have the opportunity to specialise as a Search, Evade, Resist, Escape (SERE) Instructor or an Explosive Ordnance Supervisor. You might further consider applying for Promotion to Officer Rank within selected categories.
You may be posted to most Air Force bases and other Defence establishments within Australia, however initial postings will generally be to an Air Force, Army or Navy base housing flying squadrons. Limited opportunities exist for future postings to overseas locations.
This highly dynamic role will open you up to a world of exciting experiences, like travelling around Australia and the world.
Discover where the Air Force operates across Australia on our base locations map.
I make sure our aircrew’s safety equipment is ready to perform exactly as it should.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 54 years.
For this role, you’ll need an Australian state or territory full, provisional or probationary C Class licence. If your licence is suspended or cancelled, you won’t be eligible until that suspension or cancellation has been lifted or has expired.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
Completion of Year 10 (or equivalent) education required with passes in Year 10 English, Maths and Science (with a Physics component). This is the minimum standard required to facilitate understanding of the engineering principles taught on the initial training course.
Note: Consumer Maths, General Maths, Mathematics (General Mathematics) and similarly 'modified' Maths subjects are not suitable for this role.
If you haven't completed Year 10 but are interested in joining, the ADF may be able to support your application.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Female
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Shuttle Run Score: 5.1.
Male
- Sit-ups (feet held): 20
- Shuttle Run Score: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 6 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: Air Force Recruit Course
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
During this training, you'll transition from civilian to Service life, acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and physical fitness required for your role and learning to become an effective and productive member of the Air Force.
The major elements of the course include:
- personal development and teamwork
- parade drill
- weapon handling and firing
- airfield defence
- fire fighting
- physical fitness
- Air Force history, customs and traditions
- military law.
After graduation, you'll undertake Initial Employment Training (IET) in your trade or category.
Course: Aircraft Life Support Fitter
Duration: 31 weeks (subject to change)
Location: RAAF School of Technical Training, RAAF Base Wagga, NSW
You’ll be trained in line with the requirements for a Certificate IV in Aeronautical Life Support Equipment.
Learn how to maintain aeronautical life support equipment worn and used by aircrew, such as:
- life rafts
- night vision goggles
- helmets
- oxygen masks.
Also gain aeroskills technical trade core skills, such as:
- aircraft marshalling
- aircraft refueling
- aircraft servicing.
Following completion of Initial Employment Training (IET) course and successful attainment of the competency standards, you will be issued with a Certificate IV in Aeronautical Life Support Equipment (or its successor) to meet Defence capability.
There are a number of career options for you beyond Aviation Survival Equipment Technician, in line with Air Force requirements.
You may choose to remain at the Technician career path and seek advancement through the Supervisor and Technical Manager skills levels to the rank of Warrant Officer. This career option provides for a wide variety of employment including Operational Maintenance (OM) on aircraft and in a workshop environment.
There are also career opportunities available in aviation support staff positions within: Logistics Management, Project Offices, training establishments, headquarter units, Combat Support units, and Force Element Groups.